MACHYNLLETH’S famous lantern procession will not go ahead this year as organisers look to secure its future.

The town’s annual lantern and firework extravaganza, which has taken place on the weekend after school autumn half-term for the past 15 years, drawing in crowds from all across mid Wales, has been cancelled this year.

But organisers are hoping to raise more than £1,200 to host a “lantern garden” in its place, in the hope that the procession’s absence will encourage more people to support it financially in the future.

Speaking to the Cambrian News this week, procession producer Zoe Matthews said she had made the decision to cancel the procession and firework display after making a loss last year.

Zoe said that while she understood people’s decisions not to pay to watch the procession fireworks display when other free displays popped up nearby, the procession costs £5,000 to run and entry for the display – £6 for adults and £3 for children – is the only income generator.

To donate and help the Machynlleth Lantern Garden go ahead, visit: www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/machlanterns.

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